Summary
While some anime characters need some time for audiences to warm up to, others somehow resonate with the crowd right off the bat. It may sound like a perk; being a character that everyone somehowfinds instantly likable. However, every so often, a character like that is introduced just to be brutally killed off a mere few episodes later.
But, of course, leave it to loyal fans to forever remember their favorites, no matter how short-lived their time was. Here are somefan-favorite anime charactersthat managed to steal fans' hearts despite having only a few short minutes in the spotlight.
Bajiwas effectively taken out of the picture during the very first arc ofTokyo Revengers.Baji was a founding member of the Tokyo Manji gang, which led him to get a good amount of screen time via nostalgic flashbacks. However, aside from flashbacks, audiences only had a few episodes to get attached to Baji; and in the end, the fanged delinquent managed to win over a large portion of the fanbase.
Baji had a significant impact on both the series' story and also the fandom during the few episodes he had to make his mark, proving to audiences why he was such an integral member of Toman, because he’s thekind of person to sacrifice himselfin the name of his friends.
Haku’sstory was a tearful memory for many longtime anime fans. Although Haku and Zabuza’s arc in the original 2002Narutoanime didn’t last for too long, it took place rather early on in Team Seven’s journey when Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were still more children than they were shinobi.
Haku’s tragic storymanaged to bring audiences to tears, all in the span of eleven episodes. Not only were fans heartbroken over his untimely death and his fierce loyalty to Zabuza, but also because of Naruto’s speech about how, in another lifetime, the two could have been good friends.
AlthoughLhad quite a while to gain popularity during the 37-episode run ofDeath Note, the moment he was gone, he left a massive pit of emptiness in his wake. WhileDeath Notewas a wildly popular anime back in its 2006 release, it’s not uncommon to find fans who have started the series but never finished it.
In the time that L was in the spotlight, he had garnered such a massive following that manyDeath Notefans simply left the series after his exit! Even though L left the series with only thirteen episodes remaining, those thirteen episodes felt like a lifetime to L fans. After all,L was the only onewho was a true match for the mischievous Light Yagami.
It’s important to never judge a book by its cover andMadoka Magicais a perfect example of how that way of thinking can be deceiving. Despite its bright and colorful artstyle,Madoka Magicais a rather dark anime that shows the harsh realities of the heavy burden carried by thepopular magical girl trope.
The story follows the young Madoka Kaname and her best friend, Sayaka Miki. Upon being offered a magical girl contract by the cat-like creature named Kyubey, upperclassman and fellow magical girl,Mami Tomoekindly offers to help mentor them. However, only a few episodes later, poor Mami is bested in battle and Kaname begins to understand how grim the magical girl life can be.
Petra Ralwas one of the soldiers of the Survey Corps, hand-picked by Captain Levi Ackerman himself, and was part of the Special Operations Squad. In the beginning, it seemed almost painfully obvious that Petra and Levi were to be each other’s love interest; acting as one another’s rock, getting them through the hardest of times, and allowing love and loyalty to persevere.
However, in the span of a single season, Petra (along with other members of her team) is quickly killed by the vicious Female Titan. Not only was this a heartbreaking twist for fans, poor Petra’s death happened quickly and unceremoniously, reflecting exactly how fast anddangerous the life of the Survey Corpswas.
In the futuristic world ofGurren Lagann, humankind is under the control of the Spiral King, Lordgenome, and is forced to live in isolated villages underneath the earth’s surface. The plot follows Simon while his delinquent friend,Kamina, dreams of breaking free from their underground prison and one day seeing the surface world. Kamina acts as the catalyst and urges Simon to join his gang, Team Gurren, in their endeavor to use Simon’s Core Drill and their newly unearthed Gunmen mecha to create an uprising.
While it seemed as if Simon and Kamina were fated to be partners in crime, liberating humankind together, things went south after Kamina was suddenly killed in battle at the hands of Lordgenome’s four generals. However, the fandom didn’t let Kamina’s spark die, always remembering his charisma and enthusiasmuntil the very end.
Jujutsu Kaisenfans had to wait an entire season (and film) to finally meetToji Fushiguro,the estranged father of Megumi. Toji is far from the perfect dad and isn’t exactly a good guy. However, it was his cool demeanor and incredible strength that drew fans to love him almost immediately.
While Gojo ultimately took Toji out of the picture early on in season two, Toji fans did get treated to a surprise later on in the season, as the beloved Sorcerer Killer made a quick comeback. However, even afterbeing revived by Granny Ogami, he quickly puts himself out of his own misery with just enough time to reconcile with his son and earn a little bit of redemption.
The sternSabitoand kindMakomohad only a single episode to shine and still managed to become beloved characters in theDemon Slayerfandom. The pair were some of the strongest apprentices of Sakonji Urokodaki, the retired Demon Slayer Corps member whoaids protagonist Tanjiroin his journey to help his younger sister, Nezuko.
In protagonist Tanjiro’s quest to join the Demon Slayer Corps, he must pass the Final Selection exam. While Tanjiro first struggles with his training with the enormous boulder he must cleanly cut through, the ghosts of Sabito and Makomo appear to lend a helping hand. While Sabito was initially cold and merciless about Tanjiro’s training, it becomes clear his anger came from a sense of worry as he gave Tanjiro a kind and relieved smile in his final appearance when Tanjiro had finally completed his training.
One of the most traumatic arcs in anime history is the tragic story ofNina Tuckerand her beloved pooch,Alexander.On the Elric brothers' journey to learn more about bio-alchemy, they travel to see Shou Tucker, the State Alchemist and father of young Nina. Somewhere along the way, Edward and Al find themselves rather attached to Nina as they learn that Nina’s father is often neglectful of his familial duties, heavily favoring his studies instead.
It is in Shou’s depravity and desperation that poor Nina and Alexander meet their untimely demise. Shou then resorts to using his own family, Nina and Alexander, in his twisted alchemic experiments, fusing them intoa doomed chimera.
